bullyxtreme Chapter 28 The soldiers stationed there to await him were a reincarnation of Xiang Yu!
Chapter 28 The soldiers stationed there to await him were a reincarnation of Xiang Yu!
Of course, Gao Cheng couldn't see those two fires in Jinyang.
Because at this moment, his carriage had already left Jinyang and plunged into the vast mountains of Taihang.
The mountain road was rugged, and the carriage bounced violently.
Yuan Zhonghua felt dizzy from being shaken and leaned on his shoulder, feeling drowsy.
Afraid that she might fall, Gao Cheng reached out and put his arm around her waist, while using his other hand to lift the carriage curtain and look out at the rolling green hills.
The Taihang Mountains at this time had not yet experienced the large-scale development of the Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, and the environment was so primitive that it was appalling.
Mountain streams and waterfalls, towering ancient trees, and all kinds of rare animals can be seen everywhere.
Gao Cheng just stared and observed, becoming completely absorbed.
Around noon, the convoy emerged from a treacherous mountain road, and the view ahead opened up. Gao Cheng then turned his attention to the road and prepared to order a rest and some food.
So he called out, "Liu Taozhi."
Before the words were even finished, Liu Taozhi's slightly cold voice came from outside the carriage curtain: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Gao Cheng casually instructed, "The terrain ahead is open. Let's find a place to stop and rest, and have some food before we continue."
"only."
Upon hearing this, Liu Taozhi, who was outside the curtain, had no objection and responded, intending to order everyone to stop the car and rest.
Before he could speak, the carriage in front suddenly jolted and came to an abrupt stop.
His expression changed, and he quickly reined in his horse.
Caught off guard by the inertia, Gao Cheng nearly slid off his seat and snapped, "Liu Taozhi, are you driving a car or a boat?"
Yuan Zhonghua was also startled awake, a look of fear appearing on her pretty face. She looked up and asked, "Young Master, what's wrong? What happened?"
Liu Taozhi's tone remained unchanged as she replied in a deep voice, "Your Highness, something has happened."
"misfortune?"
Gao Cheng was taken aback, then frowned and asked, "What kind of change?"
Just then, Wang Hong's voice came hurriedly from outside the carriage: "Your Highness, there are three riders blocking the road ahead, requesting an audience. They say they are envoys under the command of Governor Gao Jizhou, and have been ordered by Governor Gao Jizhou to wait here for Your Highness."
Upon hearing that Gao Ang had sent people to block the road and request an audience, Gao Cheng's eyes were immediately filled with surprise.
Although he and Gao Ang had met a few times, their relationship was not particularly deep. Why would Gao Ang send someone to see him?
Surprised and suspicious, he asked, "Did they say anything?"
Wang Hong said, "He didn't say anything, only that he had important matters to discuss with the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng's doubts only grew stronger.
But then he remembered that Gao Ang was highly respected in the Hebei army and had always treated him with respect, so he replied, "In that case, bring them over here."
"only!"
Wang Hong accepted the order and left.
Gao Cheng hesitated for a moment, then stood up, climbed out of the carriage, and sat on the carriage shaft to wait.
A short while later, Wang Hong left and then returned.
Accompanying him were three burly men in military uniforms. Upon seeing Gao Cheng, the three immediately knelt on one knee, clasped their hands, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness!"
Gao Cheng first looked the three of them up and down.
Seeing that they were clearly soldiers, with their armor gleaming and sharp blades at their waists, he nodded slightly and said, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The three clasped their hands in a fist salute again before rising in response.
Gao Cheng didn't waste any words and looked directly at the leader, asking, "I wonder why Governor Gao of Jizhou sent you all here to wait for this young master?"
Upon hearing this question, the man respectfully replied, "Your Highness, it was Gao Jizhou who knew that Your Highness was setting off for Ye today, so he specially stationed troops ten miles ahead to wait for you, and wished to invite Your Highness to the military camp for a chat."
Hearing that Gao Ang was still stationed at the front waiting for him, Gao Cheng was even more surprised.
It should be noted that Gao Ang now holds the position of Grand General of Hebei Province, and is in charge of Jizhou and Shandong Province, making him a man of great power and influence.
Given the weighty responsibility, why is he not in a hurry to take up his post, but instead has specially stationed troops here to wait for him? What exactly is his intention?
His suspicions grew, and he asked again, "Do you know what Gao Jizhou has to discuss that requires us to station troops and wait for him?"
Upon hearing this, the three shook their heads in unison: "We do not know. Governor Gao only said that once the young master enters the camp, the answer will be clear."
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng's brow furrowed even more.
But after a moment's consideration, he decided to go and find out what was going on. After all, Gao Ang was now a leading figure among the powerful families of Hebei in the army, and he had even put aside his military duties to station troops here specifically to wait for him.
Since they've made such a grand gesture, it wouldn't be appropriate for him not to go and meet them.
With that in mind, he immediately said in a deep voice, "In that case, you may lead the way."
"only!"
Upon hearing this, the three immediately turned around, mounted their horses, and led the way.
Gao Cheng also retreated into the carriage, allowing the carriage to resume its journey.
Ten miles is neither far nor near; at the speed of a carriage or horse, it would take about half an hour.
Gao Cheng sat in the carriage, his fingers lightly tapping the carriage wall, his mind racing as he pondered Gao Yuan's intentions.
Although Gao Ang was historically loyal to the Gao family, he was always excluded from the core of the Gao family because of his status.
After his brother Gao Qian was defeated and killed, although he appeared to have no connection with Gao Huan, no one knew what he was really thinking.
This sudden act of blocking the road to request an audience seems rather odd.
After pondering for a long time, he couldn't help but frown and mutter to himself, "What exactly is Gao Aocao trying to do?"
Seeing that he was frowning again, Yuan Zhonghua, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Your Highness, is something wrong?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng shook his head and casually said, "It's just a bit of a surprise."
He paused, then said, "Gao Aocao is an exceptionally brave and skilled warrior, known as 'Xiang Ji reborn,' and enjoys extremely high prestige in the Hebei army. The fact that he is waiting for me so solemnly must mean something significant."
Unexpectedly, Yuan Zhonghua tensed up instantly upon hearing this.
Her small hands clenched the hem of her clothes, and she whispered, "Young Master, that General Gao Ang... could he be a threat to us?"
"unfavorable?"
Upon hearing Yuan Zhonghua's words, Gao Cheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter as if he had heard a joke.
After a long pause, he reached out and pinched her cheek, then smiled and said, "Princess, don't worry. When I was ten years old, I went to his camp alone to persuade him to surrender."
"If he truly wanted to harm me, he would have done it back then. Why wait until today?"
Yuan Zhonghua's cheeks flushed red from his pinching, but she didn't dare to dodge, only muttering, "I...I'm just worried. Over the years, how many martial artists have turned against me?"
Seeing her so worried, Gao Cheng shook his head dismissively.
After all, no one knew better than him whether Gao Feng would relapse.
Historically, even when Gao Aocao was treated as a pawn by his own people and locked outside the city gates, he never had the thought of betraying Eastern Wei and serving Western Wei.
Even when facing the pursuing troops of Western Wei, he boasted, "Come, and I will grant you the title of Duke of the State."
If such heroic figures truly wanted to harm them, why would they resort to such despicable means?
Therefore, after shaking his head, he reassured her again, "Don't worry, even if the sky falls, I, the young master, will hold it up."
Seeing how relaxed Gao Cheng spoke, Yuan Zhonghua's tension naturally dissipated.
But deep down, I still have some worries.
It's no wonder she's timid; she's just terrified.
Five years ago, when Erzhu Rong entered the Luoyang Palace alone and was hacked to pieces by Emperor Xiaozhuang Yuan Ziyou, she was already eight years old. Although she did not witness Erzhu Rong's tragic state firsthand, she still vividly remembers the lingering smell of blood in the palace that lasted for months.